Realistically who could we get next?

[chimchim]

Let's say that we end this season as predicted by the analytical sites. Pope is coach next year and recruiting continues to struggle. We get a few average portal players and we battle injuries and we struggle to something like 19-13. Pope steps down. Ok, who you got that can handle the job and wants it? Because it's got to be both. And that pool of candidates is way smaller than many of you may realize.

EDIT: I guess should probably also point out that Mitch will still be here, as far as anyone knows. So yeah he's the guy trying to make the deal. So Ritchie, yeah that's a limiter on negotiations.

 

[Anon1759768907]

Let's say that we end this season as predicted by the analytical sites. Pope is coach next year and recruiting continues to struggle. We get a few average portal players and we battle injuries and we struggle to something like 19-13. Pope steps down. Ok, who you got that can handle the job and wants it? Because it's got to be both. And that pool of candidates is way smaller than many of you may realize.

 

[RunninRichie]

Everyone knows UK can’t get a coach. Nobody leaves for a blue blood, in any sport. Not in 2026. No, ignore that Cristobal went from Oregon to Miami. And Kalen Deboer went from playing in the title game, to Alabama. It can’t be done at UK. Nobody wants to come here, when they’re perfectly fine at their current home.

 

[Ridinwithpope]

I hope it doesn’t happen because I like pope and want him to succeed. But if it did, Iowa states coach. It’s amazing what he has done at that program and could become a 1 seed this year and make a deep run.

 

[Ridinwithpope]

Or… the coach at Texas tech. Both coaches though have been in wars in the big 12 and have shown they can win there.

 

[Anony Moose]

Oats, Pearl, tj otzelberger, Fred Hoiberg, Dusty May, Golden, Mark Byington, Donovan and several others should all be considered and spoken to.

 

[JimboBBN]

I would still make Hurley and Oats say no before trying other candidates.

 

[Dead Cat Bounce]

I’d take a look at Arizona’s coach.

 

[RunninRichie]

Oats, Pearl, tj otzelberger, Fred Hoiberg, Dusty May, Golden, Mark Byington, Donovan and several others should all be considered and spoken to.

In b4 “they aren’t coming”. They’ve already called and spoken to them first hand. Best we can do is Travis Ford. UK has no advantages and the fans are too mean.

 

[Johnny_Jeepers]

There are so many coaches that would absolutely KILL it here. Young, motivated, bloodthirsty... give them the resources we have and the backing they get from this program and fanbase and they could turn it back into a juggernaut. No doubt in my mind.

 

[TX Wildcat]

I hope it doesn’t happen because I like pope and want him to succeed. But if it did, Iowa states coach. It’s amazing what he has done at that program and could become a 1 seed this year and make a deep run.

T.J. Otzelberger would be my choice too. Heck of a coach/teacher, a likable guy (w/o being cheesy), and has teams that always play tough (win or lose). Plus, he would not lose many fist fights! He has never taken ISU past the Sweet 16 (S16 twice, Round of 32 once, and Round of 64 once), but also doesn't have a Kentucky budget or marketing name. Problem is his wife played at ISU and they have raised their kids in Ames. Might be another case where he might say yes, but his bride says no (we know who the tie always goes to). Before getting the HC job in 2021, he had served as an assistant at ISU from 2006-2013. He could end up being a God there!

That said, for our sake I hope Pope proves to be the guy!

 

[Ridinwithpope]

In b4 “they aren’t coming”. They’ve already called and spoken to them first hand. Best we can do is Travis Ford. UK has no advantages and the fans are too mean.

You realize that this is a Kentucky message board, right? Your negativity is wild!!

 

[KYWC36]

this,,, right here is why I laugh at our fan base. He is not coming to UK, why would he? LOL

 

[Anony Moose]

T.J. Otzelberger would be my choice too. Heck of a coach/teacher, a likable guy (w/o being cheesy), and has teams that always play tough (win or lose). He has never taken ISU past the Sweet 16 (S16 twice, Round of 32 once, and Round of 64 once), but also doesn't have a Kentucky budget or marketing name. Problem is his wife played at ISU and they have raised their kids in Ames. Might be another case where he might say yes, but his bride says no (we know who the tie always goes to). Before getting the HC job in 2021, he had served as an actant at ISU from 2006-2013. He could end up being a God there!

That said, for our sake I hope Pope proves to be the guy!

That's why they allow for divorce.

 

[Ridinwithpope]

T.J. Otzelberger would be my choice too. Heck of a coach/teacher, a likable guy (w/o being cheesy), and has teams that always play tough (win or lose). He has never taken ISU past the Sweet 16 (S16 twice, Round of 32 once, and Round of 64 once), but also doesn't have a Kentucky budget or marketing name. Problem is his wife played at ISU and they have raised their kids in Ames. Might be another case where he might say yes, but his bride says no (we know who the tie always goes to). Before getting the HC job in 2021, he had served as an actant at ISU from 2006-2013. He could end up being a God there!

That said, for our sake I hope Pope proves to be the guy!

Wow, I didn’t realize he had such close ties to that program. Would be hard to poach him away.

 

[Anony Moose]

You realize that this is a Kentucky message board, right? Your negativity is wild!!

He's simply pointing out the logic the minority of our fanbase possess.

 

[KYWC36]

I should also add, Pope is in zero danger of going anywhere anytime soon, and I am glad

 

[TX Wildcat]

There are so many coaches that would absolutely KILL it here. Young, motivated, bloodthirsty... give them the resources we have and the backing they get from this program and fanbase and they could turn it back into a juggernaut. No doubt in my mind.

Agree. They need to have a certain brashness/cockiness to them to match the energy of us/BBN. I like Pope and have hope he gets things right. If he doesn't I feel we almost need a guy fans of other teams can't stand (like they can't stand us UK fans).

 

[KYWC36]

Agree. They need to have a certain brashness/cockiness to them to match the energy of us/BBN. I like Pope and have hope he gets things right. If he doesn't I feel we almost need a guy fans of other teams can't stand (like they can't stand us UK fans).

Our fans would expect the best of the best though, they would expect to poach the current reigning title winner, if we hired a good young coach they would hate that too and scream we can do better. You cant satisfy this fanbase, so I just make fun of it mostly now lol

 

[RunninRichie]

Our fans would expect the best of the best though, they would expect to poach the current reigning title winner, if we hired a good young coach they would hate that too and scream we can do better. You cant satisfy this fanbase, so I just make fun of it mostly now lol

UK literally hired John Calipari off a 38 win season.

 

[Ridinwithpope]

He's simply pointing out the logic the minority of our fanbase possess.

Sarcasm then? Sorry, new to this board and still trying to figure out who are the jokers and who are not.

 

[chimchim]

Wow, I didn’t realize he had such close ties to that program. Would be hard to poach him away.

Not according to Ritchie. We will have our pick!! They'll be stomping a mud hole in each other's asses to get to Lexington with Mitch and JMI

 

[chimchim]

UK literally hired John Calipari off a 38 win season.

How many years ago was that? I mean nothing has changed, like NIL, right?

 

[Anony Moose]

Sarcasm then? Sorry, new to this board and still trying to figure out who are the jokers and who are not.

Not really so much sarcasm, as an accurate reflection of what some of you actually post on here.

 

[KYWC36]

UK literally hired John Calipari off a 38 win season.

They did- from a much lesser school and in a totally different time. I didn't say it couldn't happen, just that our fans would expect it and feel entitled too it and scoff if a coach like Mark Few stayed at Gonzaga. Meanwhile Gonzaga has been a better program over the last 25 years than UK has.

 

[TX Wildcat]

Not according to Ritchie. We will have our pick!! They'll be stomping a mud hole in each other's asses to get to Lexington with Mitch and JMI

Even if true, seems a whole host of wives do not want to be married to a man who coaches Kentucky!

 

[Ridinwithpope]

I do think it would be hard to get guys who have been to title games, who have won titles at their schools, and who are tenured like Sampson, Hurley, Drew. Those guys are legends at their schools and treated like royalty. Coaches would come here to get over the top who have been far in the tournament. That’s why I say either TJ or Hoiberg.

 

[Johnny_Jeepers]

In b4 “they aren’t coming”. They’ve already called and spoken to them first hand. Best we can do is Travis Ford. UK has no advantages and the fans are too mean.

Exactly! "Waahhh I don't want to get paid $7M+ a year to coach at the most historic college basketball program of all time and have one of the highest portal budgets to play with because did you see what that Johnny Jeepers guy said about Pope's recruiting on Rupp's Rafters? I can't handle that kind of pressure, no way!!!"

 

[Anony Moose]

Not according to Ritchie. We will have our pick!! They'll be stomping a mud hole in each other's asses to get to Lexington with Mitch and JMI

How many years ago was that? I mean nothing has changed, like NIL, right?

I mean, one of the most storied programs in history who doesn't deny and actually supports spending 22 million annually on a roster.

We are willing to pay top dollar for coaches, upgrade already good facilities and arguably the largest fanbase in CBB.

Why wouldn't good coaches be ready to come?

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

I think the current era offers some pros and cons when looking for a new coach:

- PROS: Kentucky has allegedly offered a $22 million for one team.
- PROS: Kentucky's massive brand would be alluring for recruits for name, image and likeness.
- PROS: Kentucky has fan support that reaches border to border.
- PROS: Kentucky has the winningest all-time program, rich in historical achievements of the highest regards.
- CONS: Kentucky is a rural state and may not have comparable money to metropolitan areas or resource capital (such as oil money).
- CONS: Kentucky's fans have team and individual expectations that can be unreasonable at times.
- CONS: Kentucky's historic success equates to low job security and can be a major risk for coaches.
- CONS: Many coaches have resources to build at other schools now, whereas resources were not as readily available in previous eras.

 

[KYWC36]

I mean, one of the most storied programs in history who doesn't deny and actually supports spending 22 million annually on a roster.

We are willing to pay top dollar for coaches, upgrade already good facilities and arguably the largest fanbase in CBB.

Why wouldn't good coaches be ready to come?

They didn't want to come when we hired Pope.... you guys act like we don't have proof that we aren't as amazing as we think we are. UK is a storied program... that is truth.... but most of its titles were before any of us were born and in the last 25 years we are fifth in wins, with 1 title. Its not as far ahead as we make it out to be


I Know I KNOW... FAAAAAAAAAAAAAR MITCH

 

[FLBBNFAN]

Or… the coach at Texas tech. Both coaches though have been in wars in the big 12 and have shown they can win there.

He is a good coach . He was p*ssed at his pg against Arizona the other day when his pg played hero ball on their last second shot. He was all over his guy. They still won in overtime but it's good to see a coach get on his guyscwhen needed.

Iowa States coach is excellent as well. Plus throw in Arizona's coach as well. All 3 of those guys would probably kill it here.

 

[RunninRichie]

How many years ago was that? I mean nothing has changed, like NIL, right?

The same NIL that Kentucky had 22 million dollars of? That NIL?

 

[Hitman206]

Tommy Lloyd

 

[Ridinwithpope]

They didn't want to come when we hired Pope.... you guys act like we don't have proof that we aren't as amazing as we think we are. UK is a storied program... that is truth.... but most of its titles were before any of us were born and in the last 25 years we are fifth in wins, with 1 title. Its not as far ahead as we make it out to be


I Know I KNOW... FAAAAAAAAAAAAAR MITCH

Unfortunately, this is true. Many people I fear when we were going to final fours and won the title in 12 with multiple nba guys look at it with a lens of that’s because it was cal and not because it was Kentucky.

 

[Anony Moose]

They didn't want to come when we hired Pope.... you guys act like we don't have proof that we aren't as amazing as we think we are. UK is a storied program... that is truth.... but most of its titles were before any of us were born and in the last 25 years we are fifth in wins, with 1 title. Its not as far ahead as we make it out to be


I Know I KNOW... FAAAAAAAAAAAAAR MITCH

OMG, Scott Drew and reportedly Hurley (which has never been verified and actually are reports we never spoke to him) didn't want to come. Logically that means no on else would, right?!?!

 

[MegaBlue05]

My guess is another up and comer.

If I was an established basketball coach at a P4 football school, I will continue to get paid millions, fly under the radar, win big with no real fan pressure and not deal with this BS (gestures wildly at fanbase that needs straight jackets with each and every loss).

This aint 40 or even 20 years ago. Everyone pays players now.

 

[MegaBlue05]

I think the current era offers some pros and cons when looking for a new coach:

- PROS: Kentucky has allegedly offered a $22 million for one team.
- PROS: Kentucky's massive brand would be alluring for recruits for name, image and likeness.
- PROS: Kentucky has fan support that reaches border to border.
- PROS: Kentucky has the winningest all-time program, rich in historical achievements of the highest regards.
- CONS: Kentucky is a rural state and may not have comparable money to metropolitan areas or resource capital (such as oil money).
- CONS: Kentucky's fans have team and individual expectations that can be unreasonable at times.
- CONS: Kentucky's historic success equates to low job security and can be a major risk for coaches.
- CONS: Many coaches have resources to build at other schools now, whereas resources were not as readily available in previous eras.

This is a fair analysis. Agree on all points.

 

[RunninRichie]

They did- from a much lesser school and in a totally different time. I didn't say it couldn't happen, just that our fans would expect it and feel entitled too it and scoff if a coach like Mark Few stayed at Gonzaga. Meanwhile Gonzaga has been a better program over the last 25 years than UK has.

Gonzaga with 2 final fours 2, runner ups, 5 elite 8s has been a better program, than UK since 2001? How? UK has 4 final fours 1 runner up, 1 title, 9 elite 8s in that same time span. Hilarious twisting here.

 

[Ridinwithpope]

OMG, Scott Drew and reportedly Hurley (which has never been verified and actually are reports we never spoke to him) didn't want to come. Logically that means no on else would, right?!?!

I do think we should have done a more vast search but because cal left so late, it put us in such a hole that we needed to create a team with not alot of time to do so. Mitch probably jumped the gun on pope maybe too fast without interviewing more coaches but he knew he could get a quality coach in pope. We needed to create a whole team through the portal without a lot of time to do so.